Remembering the Why; Flexing the How

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“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-14, 16

MISSION

Several years ago, I sat in the office of Mike Farris,
co-founder of NCFCA, listening to him reminisce about our humble beginnings.
He spoke of equipping generations of young people who, armed with truth, would
develop the skills to think deeply, analyze correctly, and communicate
winsomely, all for the glory of God.

Twenty years later, our mission hasn’t changed. We are
still using competition as a means to develop students who know, apply, and
communicate the truth. We are still equipping students with practical skills
so that no matter their calling, they can address life issues through the lens
of Scripture. Our ultimate purpose is not to produce the most accomplished
communicators who shine brightly for their own sake, but rather to nurture the
most intentional communicators who use their gifts to glorify God and impact
their culture.

Students sharpen their skills in the final rounds of the 2019 National Championship in Anderson, SC. Photo Credit: Nationals Photography Team

METHOD

With our mission as a fixed filter for our endeavors, we
continue to fine-tune our methods in order to provide excellent opportunities
for our affiliates. Over the past few years, you have likely noticed many
changes. From refining ballots, to streamlining rules, to clarifying policies
and procedures, our national team strives for continuous improvement.

As our affiliate needs change, we listen to feedback and watch for growth opportunities. One need that continues to be expressed is the need for flexibility. We are excited to announce that in 2020, in addition to our traditional 3-day tournament structure, we will offer 1 ½ and 2-day qualifying tournaments with elimination rounds, providing greater flexibility for you and your families to participate in NCFCA. We believe that these new structures will offer the same competitive excellence that we’ve all come to appreciate while reducing affiliate costs and time commitments, thus allowing more families to participate. More information will follow, so please stay tuned.

We are grateful for your continued partnership. Together, may we continue to inspire and train generations of young people to be bright lights that attract those around them for His glory. For our current competitors and our alumni scattered throughout the world, let’s continue to pray fervently and work diligently, that they will be fully equipped to impact their world with God’s truth and grace.

Students celebrate at the 2019 National Championship Awards Ceremony in Anderson, SC. Photo Credit: Nationals Photography Team

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Sometimes the path twists and turns, leading us into uncharted territory. Such is the story of 2020. Still the author of Hebrews encourages us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off